Image description: A happy elderly couple sitting on a sofa, smiling with a remote in their hand watching TV. By Dr. Chandra Char Published in Aging in America News on July 21, 2026 https://aginginamerica.news/2026/07/21/direct-to-consumer-pharma-advertising/ Imagine yourself or your 80-year-old grandmother, retired at home watching Days of Our Lives or The Price is Right in the afternoon on a weekday. During commercial break, As Seen on TV and pharmaceutical company ads spar

Image credit: image generated by AI Image description: A grey and black stripped cat looking into a antique wood framed mirror to see a lion staring back at them. Note: The composition of this writing, the contents and editing were all completed and generated without AI. May 19, 2026 A friend and I have been working on a cover of Brave by Sara Bareilles. I guess that may be what reignited my interest in this song. This time, I was looking at the lyrics from more than just an

by Chandra Char PhD MPH Published on February 13, 2026 at https://aginginamerica.news/2026/02/13/curtain-call/ Theaters Adapting to Aging Audiences | Chandra Char | As a self-identifying theater fanatic, I often attend the symphony, musicals, and plays with my friends—most of whom happen to be over the age of 70. I’ve witnessed the challenges presented to aging adults that, in an effort to preserve nostalgia or history, fail to accommodate those with age-related disabilities

By Chandra Char PhD MPH & Michael McKee MD MPH Article published in the American Association of Family Physicians on October 2024 https://www.aafp.org/afp/2024/1000/graham-center-deaf-community-health-care-needs For approximately 500,000 Deaf people in the United States who use American Sign Language (ASL), accessing quality health care is challenging.1 Deaf people are more likely to have been admitted to a hospital in the past 12 months and have a history of chronic illness

by Dr. Chandra Char Originally published in The Health Psychologist 2024 Spring Research highlights Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) seem to be common terms used in academic settings these days. However, what does DEI mean when it comes to health psychology research? What does it mean to be equitable and inclusive? Equity is an end goal, but it should also inform every stage of the research process, from problem identification, to data collection, analysis, interpretatio

Patient-provider interactions lacking in empathy can contribute to ableism in healthcare and can have negative effects on patients with disabilities. By Chandra Char Ph.D. MPH Teaser text: Empathy in healthcare can sufficiently enhance the healthcare experience including patient-provider trust and rapport. Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels Previously published in Health Psychology on November 2023. Empathy vs pity Empathy plays an important role in building relationship

Despite good intentions, grocery stores’ pandemic policies may remain flawed. By Chandra Char PhD MPH Previous published in Psychology Today on April 2, 2021 at https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/disability-is-diversity/202104/how-stores-covid-19-policies-affect-the-disabled-community Key points During COVID-19, many grocery stores established "senior hours" to make grocery shopping safer for seniors and people with disabilities. But because many disabilities are invisib